Exercise Guide

Finding Time in Your Schedule

Many people find summer exercise easy, because there are so many fun activities available when it’s warm outside. But if you live in the North, you might find exercise during the winter much more difficult. I refuse to run outdoors when it’s very cold, the road is icy, or the snow banks have narrowed the road significantly. But I also refuse to hibernate, since exercise helps improve your immune system to help you fight off winter colds and flu, and also gives you energy and a positive outlook. So, here are a few tips to get you thinking about staying active all year long!

Find exercise videos you love, and carve out a space indoors with the equipment you need. I exercise in my basement all year long, and add outdoor activities when weather permits. The great thing about having an exercise video collection, and the right space, is that you have absolutely no excuses! Weather, time of day, long lines for equipment, etc. will not stop you from burning calories! My personal favorites come from The Firm, and my favorite place to shop is Collage Video. Visit my website, www.slimdale.com and click on Links to get there.

The new fall television lineup will be here soon. Use TV commercial breaks! Many people ignore strength training because they feel cardio burns more calories. But adding muscle to your body will raise your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories all day long. Resistance training also strengthens your bones, and just getting stronger can help you with a multitude of daily activities. So find a book, magazine article, wall chart or other resource showing exercises to work all major muscle groups, and do a set of repetitions during each commercial. You’ll get a 20-minute workout during one 60-minute show!

Join a walking club at a local school, or walk inside a shopping mall. You can window-shop before the stores open so you go right to the store that has the best sales or the styles you love when they are open.

Park farther away from the door and walk. At work, at the grocery store, at the mall; any place where you’re stuck walking outside anyway, just bundle up and get a few extra steps. When indoors, take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. You’ll burn lots more calories. You can even try using restrooms, copy machines, etc. on a different floor just to get more exercise. Consider wearing a pedometer and challenging yourself to keep increasing your steps per day.

Use your lunch break if you work in an office. If your company has a gym, use it. Walk outside when the weather permits. If it’s raining or snowing, walk laps around the parking garage or laps around each floor perimeter plus the steps between floors.

Be less efficient! If you live in a multi-story house, take as many trips up and down the stairs as you can instead of saving things to go up or down. At the office, take a walk to see your coworkers instead of always using email. Face-to-face conversation is often better anyway, as it avoids misunderstandings and leads to better bonding and teamwork.

Consider winter sports. Skiing (downhill or cross-country), ice skating, and snow-shoeing can all burn lots of calories. Also, just play in the snow! Go sledding or build a snowman, and make some snow angels!

I hope these tips help you to stay active this winter! Remember, the key to weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume (and weight maintenance is balancing the intake and the burn equally over time.) If you don’t burn calories with exercise, you’ll need to cut your food intake, and that will be especially difficult during the holidays. I personally would rather exercise more and enjoy a few holiday cookies! So get in the habit of exercising consistently now!

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Considering the purchase of a treadmill? If you are thinking about getting the benefits of a little running with the use of a treadmill, think again. There are several reasons why you should not use them. The fact is that you have several other opportunities out there for you. If you plan to exercise, you can purchase whatever exercise equipment you need to do so. But, don’t waste your money. Here are some facts that you should consider.

Why Not To Buy It

1. The pain- If you have used a treadmill in the past, you are probably well aware of the pain they can cause. The surface you are running on is hard and the impact can do some real damage to your body. Not only are you likely to feel it in shin splints but you’ll feel it in your knees as well as in your lower back. The fact is that you are doing well for your body but you are also doing bad for your body. Trading weight loss or muscle gain for back aches and sprained knees in return may not be the best way to go.

2. Outdoors is better- If you are the running type and can’t live without it then do it outside. Not only is the clean air good for you physically, but the fact is that the changes in the incline is better running than any treadmill can provide. When you run around your neighborhood, you’re more likely to have varying slopes, and the running path is likely to change course. This helps to push your heart just that much more. This is especially true when you use a different route each time you head out. You’ll get a better workout and best of all - it’s free!

3. Choose an Elliptical- Okay, so you know why you shouldn’t go with a treadmill but what do you use for indoor training then? If you are going to run, use an elliptical. Sure, it’s not the same as running outdoors but it offers a much healthier way of exercising because of its lower impact on your body.

Leave the treadmill at the store. Get out, or buy an elliptical instead and reap the rewards.

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.elliptical-trainers-reviews.com/ On his website he provides a schwinn 418 elliptical trainer review and proform elliptical reviews.

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You’ve Been a Dedicated Treadmill User For Years, Is It Time To Give The Elliptical Trainer A Try?

The treadmill has typically been the most popular piece of exercise equipment for both at home and in traditional gyms. Nevertheless, the recent popularity of the impact free elliptical trainer has given the treadmill a run for its money. Let’s examine the elliptical trainer versus the treadmill. How does it compare? What are the benefits of each? Is one better than the other?

Both the elliptical trainer and treadmill are great for beginners.

First off, both the elliptical trainer and the treadmill are excellent equipment for getting a great workout for your heart. The treadmill is terrific for beginners because you can start out at a slower pace and work your way up to a light jog and even a full out run.

Besides the speed, you can also adjust the treadmill’s incline giving you a greater workout of your hamstrings, quadriceps and gluteus.

The elliptical is also fantastic for beginners. Mimicking the same movement as walking, the elliptical trainer is easy to learn and use.

The elliptical trainer provides a low impact workout versus the treadmill.

The elliptical’s low impact movement makes it a great choice for anyone with joint, ankle, hip or back problems. The elliptical trainer is low impact because your feet remaining on the pedals throughout the movement, there is no impact on the ground. In fact, scientific research has proven that the elliptical trainer is a more favourable exercise for overweight patients or individuals with back, knee, or other lower leg limitations.

The treadmill is not considered a low impact exercise. Yes, the treadmill mat is less jarring than running on cement; however, your joints still absorb a significant amount of impact every time you step down onto the mat. In fact, on a treadmill, your body is absorbing up to two and half times your body weight.

The elliptical trainer versus the treadmill; both provide similar physiological benefits.

Research studies have proven that elliptical trainers and treadmills are virtually identical in terms of heart rate, perceived exertion and oxygen retention. 2 So, when evaluating the elliptical trainer versus the treadmill, you are getting the same quality cardiovascular exercise and training benefits no matter which machine you choose.

The elliptical trainer with handlebars provides a great cross training work out versus the treadmill.

The elliptical or oval shaped motion of the elliptical trainer mimics the normal motion of the foot, the extension of the leg and the rotation of the hip during walking or running. This elliptical motion uses all of your leg muscles, giving you a very effective lower body workout.

In addition to this fantastic lower body workout, an elliptical trainer with handlebars concurrently works your upper body. Approximately 30 percent of your upper body gets a workout. The treadmill only works the lower body. In fact, many treadmill users ‘cheat’ by hanging onto the handrail provided on the machine. Research shows that by hanging on, treadmill users are not burning as many calories and are creating an unnatural running stride.

Not only will get you get toned arms using an elliptical trainer versus the treadmill, but the arm action actually causes your heart rate to climb more quickly. In theory, this means you need less time to achieve more results.

If you are a runner, the treadmill allows you to mimic your outdoor running whereas the elliptical does not.

If you train for running events, then a treadmill is likely your preferred choice. The treadmill allows you to train indoors while performing the same exercise that you do outside. The elliptical trainer will give you an excellent workout, but may not prepare you as well as the treadmill does.

The elliptical trainer allows you to reverse direction whereas the treadmill does not.

When you’re at the gym, you may notice many elliptical users moving in the reverse direction. When you change from a forward movement to a backward movement, you are working different leg muscles. Using the elliptical trainer in both directions during a workout allows you to utilize and exercise all of your leg muscles.

No matter which piece of equipment you prefer, both the elliptical trainer and treadmill will help you build bone density, improve your cardiovascular health, increase your energy levels, and burn fat and calories. If you workout in a health club, try varying your cardio workout by using several different pieces of equipment. If you have a home based gym, try out both the treadmill and the elliptical trainer to determine which one you like the best.

Blake Bissaillion is the author of http://www.building-muscle101.com/elliptical-trainer-reviews.html. Building Muscle 101’s Elliptical Trainer Reviews provides detailed and comprehensive elliptical trainer reviews of today’s top elliptical models. There are elliptical routines, advice, and information on elliptical exercise equipment.

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